Year of the Water Snake: What It Means to Be a Snake

When we welcomed the Chinese New Year on February 10th, we were ringing in the Year of the Water Snake. This means a year for "shedding your old skin" and starting fresh. We are especially excited about this year because the snake represents transformation and new beginnings. 

The purpose of  the snake is to symbolize wisdom and deep expressions of spirituality. So if you have any new careers you're chasing, new loves to win over, or fears to conquer-this is the year for you! The snake is so wise and spiritual because it crawls on the ground, which for the Chinese represents a connection to the Earth. Rather than a symbol of danger or evil, like it is often portrayed in the west, the Chinese view the snake as a healer and symbol of rebirth. This idea dates back to the ancient legend of a Chinese Snake goddess who created the first people from the clay in the banks of the Yellow River. 

Your Chinese sign is a snake if you are born in the years 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013. 

If you are born in a Snake year you are a very driven person, always striving to be as successful as you can be- but you are never impulsive about reaching your goals. Snakes are planners and strive towards their goals through careful calculations, waiting for the perfect moment to "strike". This drive can sometimes be taken to the extreme, wishing to meet goals regardless of the circumstances. 

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Although Snakes have an air of mystery about them, they are generally attractive and charming. They can be quite social at times, but also are content with hanging back and simply observing. Upon first glance, the Snake can seem distant or secretive- they don't reveal their thoughts to just anyone- but once a person gets to know a Snake, they will find them to actually be very sensitive and caring. 




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What "Chi" Means to China

Chi, traditionally spelt qi, is a concept in Chinese culture dating all the way back to 5th century BCE. Ancient Chinese philosophy describes chi as a life force or energy which binds all things together. Even today, it is believed that chi is the flow of energy through the body that forms cohesion and balance. Ancient Confucian scholars believed that life was the result of the accumulation of chi, without it we would simply cease to exist. Even through advances in science, technology, and medicine, Chi still remains an active part of Chinese culture and tradition. Chi acts as the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine as well as martial arts. 

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Traditional Chinese medicine, dating back to ancient times, is still practiced throughout China today. The belief behind these traditional practices are that illness and disease are the result of blocked or unbalanced channels, referred to as meridians. The unbalanced within the meridians stops the correct flow of chi, resulting in deficiencies in organs or other parts of the body.  Traditional Chinese medicine seeks to reverse these imbalances by restoring the flow of chi. This is done through countless methods such as eating or drinking specific herbs, massages, physical training, food therapy, and acupuncture. 

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This alternative form of medicine is as easy to find in China as Western medicine. Many hospitals and clinics in China will have Western medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine being practiced side by side. Incoming patients are given the choice of whether they wish to be treated with standard Western medicine or opt for an alternative treatment. Often times, Chinese patients will combine the two, for example, alternating between daily doses of Traditional Chinese herbs and prescribed drug regimens. One of the core beliefs in Traditional Chinese medicine that differs from the traditional Western Biomedical model is that being healthy is not strictly having an absence of illness of disease, but possessing overall mental, physical, and social wellbeing.